Entries have now closed for this year’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), the 24th edition of the annual transatlantic rally. The Rally organisers, World Cruising Club, have now opened a waiting list after accepting 225 entries for the 2010 rally.
 
There are 28 countries represented in this year’s event that starts on 22nd November in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.  200 yachts from all over the world, will cross the Atlantic to Saint Lucia, one of the most beautiful in the Lesser Antilles. The 2,700 nautical mile passage on the NE tradewind route takes typically takes between 14 and 21 days and the fleet reaches its destination and the finish line in Rodney Bay.
 
Whilst fundamentally a fun rally for cruising yachts, the ARC does have a more serious Racing Division, run under the auspices of the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC). Yachts in the Racing Divisions are not permitted to use their engines for propulsion (unlike the cruisers), although use of autopilots is allowed.